Police investigations have not found any link between the recent oil spill in Tobago and 1.109 kilos of cocaine that washed ashore there.
This was revealed on Tuesday by National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds.
Hinds was responding to a question in the Senate by Opposition Senator Wade Mark on Tuesday afternoon.
Mark asked if the “origin and ownership” of the “white, powdery substance” as well as tactical gear and police uniforms had been identified.
Hinds corrected Mark, saying it was a “solid, creamish substance” which was identified as cocaine.
“That was found, according to the police, some 250m away from the wrecked and yet unidentified vessel that has been widely spoken about within recent times…
“Based on information from the police, on the balance of probabilities, it appears to them thus far – and the matter is still under investigation – that that package that was found was not necessarily related to that vessel.”
He added that no police uniforms or tactical gear were found along with the cocaine.
Mark then asked if the cocaine washing ashore was “another manifestation of the complete breakdown of the security apparatus” in Trinidad and Tobago.
However, Senate President Nigel de Freitas said the question did not arise.